Gaming PC: electricity cost calculator
Quick answer: a typical gaming pc costs about $10/month while in use at the U.S. average electricity price (18.16¢/kWh) — about $119 per year. Your number depends on wattage, runtime and your state — calculate it below.
A mid-to-high-end gaming PC draws 350–600 W under gaming load (far less at idle). The preset assumes 4 hours of gaming per day.
1.80 kWh/day used · 55 kWh/month in use · 657 kWh/year at 18.16¢ per kWh
Low, typical and heavy use
Monthly cost while in use, at the U.S. average price of 18.16¢/kWh.
| Scenario | Watts | Hours/day | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light use | 300 W | 2.4 h | $3.98 |
| Typical | 450 W | 4.0 h | $9.95 |
| Heavy use | 800 W | 6.0 h | $26.53 |
Common questions
Does idle time matter?
A PC left on but idle typically draws 60–120 W. Sleep mode drops that to a few watts — worth enabling if the machine sits unused for hours.
Cost in every state
Monthly cost of a typical gaming pc (450 W, 4h/day) at each state's average residential price, August 2026.
| State | Avg price | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 16.33¢ | $8.95 |
| Alaska | 29.41¢ | $16.11 |
| Arizona | 15.05¢ | $8.25 |
| Arkansas | 14.37¢ | $7.87 |
| California | 29.75¢ | $16.30 |
| Colorado | 17.17¢ | $9.41 |
| Connecticut | 24.51¢ | $13.43 |
| Delaware | 18.70¢ | $10.25 |
| District of Columbia | 25.98¢ | $14.23 |
| Florida | 14.99¢ | $8.21 |
| Georgia | 15.90¢ | $8.71 |
| Hawaii | 47.18¢ | $25.85 |
| Idaho | 13.37¢ | $7.33 |
| Illinois | 19.32¢ | $10.58 |
| Indiana | 17.02¢ | $9.32 |
| Iowa | 17.06¢ | $9.35 |
| Kansas | 15.47¢ | $8.48 |
| Kentucky | 13.80¢ | $7.56 |
| Louisiana | 12.87¢ | $7.05 |
| Maine | 32.11¢ | $17.59 |
| Maryland | 21.40¢ | $11.72 |
| Massachusetts | 30.48¢ | $16.70 |
| Michigan | 22.99¢ | $12.60 |
| Minnesota | 17.20¢ | $9.42 |
| Mississippi | 14.43¢ | $7.91 |
| Missouri | 16.02¢ | $8.78 |
| Montana | 15.57¢ | $8.53 |
| Nebraska | 13.54¢ | $7.42 |
| Nevada | 12.72¢ | $6.97 |
| New Hampshire | 27.64¢ | $15.14 |
| New Jersey | 24.61¢ | $13.48 |
| New Mexico | 16.51¢ | $9.05 |
| New York | 28.65¢ | $15.70 |
| North Carolina | 14.95¢ | $8.19 |
| North Dakota | 13.31¢ | $7.29 |
| Ohio | 19.38¢ | $10.62 |
| Oklahoma | 14.82¢ | $8.12 |
| Oregon | 15.92¢ | $8.72 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.77¢ | $11.93 |
| Rhode Island | 28.18¢ | $15.44 |
| South Carolina | 15.76¢ | $8.63 |
| South Dakota | 15.15¢ | $8.30 |
| Tennessee | 13.42¢ | $7.35 |
| Texas | 15.91¢ | $8.72 |
| Utah | 13.31¢ | $7.29 |
| Vermont | 23.84¢ | $13.06 |
| Virginia | 17.64¢ | $9.66 |
| Washington | 14.63¢ | $8.02 |
| West Virginia | 16.31¢ | $8.94 |
| Wisconsin | 19.41¢ | $10.63 |
| Wyoming | 14.43¢ | $7.91 |
Related calculators
Television Modern TVs are cheap to run — size and brightness matter.
~100 W · 5h/day →
Home server 24/7 duty makes even modest watts add up.
~100 W · 24h/day →
NAS (network storage) Each spinning drive adds 5–8 watts, all day long.
~40 W · 24h/day →
Wi-Fi router & modem Always on, but mercifully small.
~15 W · 24h/day →
Security camera system The NVR usually draws more than the cameras.
~30 W · 24h/day →
Standby (vampire) power The load that never turns off — typically 5–10% of a bill.
~75 W · 24h/day →
Methodology & sources
Cost = watts ÷ 1,000 × hours × price per kWh. Electricity prices are average residential prices by state from the EIA Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A (August 2026). EIA averages include delivery charges and taxes but are not any specific utility tariff — for an exact figure, use the rate from your own bill. Wattage presets reflect common product ranges; check your appliance's nameplate or a plug-in power meter for its true draw.
Last verified: October 24, 2026. Prices refresh automatically each month when EIA publishes new data.